Swiss Bear leaders seek contract, funding increase

Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 04:29 PM.

After 34 years of partnering with New Bern, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. is asking for a contract with the city.

Susan Moffat-Thomas, executive director, and Tom McGraw, chairman of Swiss Bear, went before the New Bern Board of Aldermen Tuesday during a workshop and asked for a four-year contract with the city to better clarify their responsibilities to each other.

McGraw asked aldermen to restore Swiss Bear’s annual budget to $55,000. For the past two years, the nonprofit’s budget was $45,348. The city’s allocation makes up about 20 to 25 percent of Swiss Bear’s annual budget, Moffat-Thomas said after the meeting.

She told aldermen Swiss Bear started its partnership with the city in 1979, and in 1980, when New Bern became a Main Street City, the nonprofit coordinated the revitalization of the waterfront and numerous other projects that have resulted in more than $200 million being invested in the greater downtown area.

But in 2010 there was a transition in the local government and confusion over what Swiss Bear’s role should be, she said. That was the first year Swiss Bear had to go before the aldermen to ask for funding. Before then, funding for the nonprofit was always included in the city budget, Moffat-Thomas said Wednesday.

As the city embarks on the Gateway Renaissance Project and participates in the $400,000 Choice Neighborhood Grant that could bring affordable housing and development to Five Points and the downtown area, Moffat-Thomas said Swiss Bear is looking forward to working with the New Bern Housing Authority and city on the project, but felt it was time to have an agreement with the city.

McGraw said other nonprofits have had a “highly successful track record” partnering with Main Street Cities, and chose the city of Garner as a model. Although the city is smaller than New Bern, its nonprofit development organization has worked successfully under an agreement with the city, he said.

After 34 years of partnering with New Bern, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. is asking for a contract with the city.

Susan Moffat-Thomas, executive director, and Tom McGraw, chairman of Swiss Bear, went before the New Bern Board of Aldermen Tuesday during a workshop and asked for a four-year contract with the city to better clarify their responsibilities to each other.

McGraw asked aldermen to restore Swiss Bear’s annual budget to $55,000. For the past two years, the nonprofit’s budget was $45,348. The city’s allocation makes up about 20 to 25 percent of Swiss Bear’s annual budget, Moffat-Thomas said after the meeting.

She told aldermen Swiss Bear started its partnership with the city in 1979, and in 1980, when New Bern became a Main Street City, the nonprofit coordinated the revitalization of the waterfront and numerous other projects that have resulted in more than $200 million being invested in the greater downtown area.

But in 2010 there was a transition in the local government and confusion over what Swiss Bear’s role should be, she said. That was the first year Swiss Bear had to go before the aldermen to ask for funding. Before then, funding for the nonprofit was always included in the city budget, Moffat-Thomas said Wednesday.

As the city embarks on the Gateway Renaissance Project and participates in the $400,000 Choice Neighborhood Grant that could bring affordable housing and development to Five Points and the downtown area, Moffat-Thomas said Swiss Bear is looking forward to working with the New Bern Housing Authority and city on the project, but felt it was time to have an agreement with the city.

McGraw said other nonprofits have had a “highly successful track record” partnering with Main Street Cities, and chose the city of Garner as a model. Although the city is smaller than New Bern, its nonprofit development organization has worked successfully under an agreement with the city, he said.

McGraw said with a four-year contract, Swiss Bear would emphasize revitalization efforts in the greater downtown area and Five Points commercial areas.

The contract also said Swiss Bear will advise city officials on matters of revitalization and community development and fundraising, which the nonprofit already does.

Mayor Dana Outlaw said the city will soon start its budget workshops, which is when aldermen hear requests from nonprofits.

Although Outlaw said he appreciated all Swiss Bear has done for the city and will do in the future, he was not aware of the city ever having a four-year contract in the past.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.